Strip feeding device



Sept. 15, 1959 c. F HOWARD 2,903,900

STRIP FEEDING DEVICE Filed July 19, 1956 INVENTOR. CHARLES E Hon Aw BY 1 ATTORNEY I m I I m m I .1 r 2 2,903,900 Patented Sept. 15, 1959 2,903,900 STRIP FEEDING DEVICE Charles F. Howard, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 19, 1956, Serial No. 598,910 7 Claims. (Cl. 74--243) This invention relates to strip feeding apparatus, and more particularly to pin wheel assemblies as used in typewriters, imprinters, tabulators and the like for positive advance of marginally perforated record strip material.

The invention has especial application to pin wheels wherein the feeding pins remain extended throughout rotation of the pin wheel device. In such devices, the pin wheel body defines a bight in the record strip material which is stretched over the surface of the body. The strip is advanced by rotation of the body, the pin wheels progressively entering successive perforations in the strip at the entrance to the bight and withdrawing from the strip at the exit thereof. In accordance with preferred practice in feeding apparatus of this kind, the actual feeding or advance of the strip is effected only by the feeding pins which are fully extended Within the strip, these pins engaging the leading edge of the strip perforations and advancing the strip in unison with their own revolving movement. In the case of the pins entering the strip it is desirable that the pins be tilted slightly in a rearward direction for more facile entry and that they be similarly tilted for more facile withdrawal from the strip. This practice serves to avoid interference between the feeding pins and the strip material as might result from a slight misalignment of the perforations of superposed strip copies. Pin wheel devices with tilting feeding pins are particularly effective in, and enable, high speed business machine operation and in tight strip applications.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of strip feeding devices, whereby such devices may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more efficient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications, and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide for tilting pin movement in a rotary pin wheel device characterized by continuously extended feeding pins.

Another object of the invention is to provide an integrated pin wheel device of the kind described which may be shipped, installed and used as a unit and without a need for special skill in its assembly.

A further object of the invention is to present a generally new structure for pin wheel feeding devices especially characterized by a leaning feeding pin which is continuously projected above the surface of the pin wheel body and which intermittently is tilted in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the pin wheel body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding device possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a pin wheel assem b ly in accordance with the illustrated form of the invention, showing a strip material stretched thereover;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the unit of Fig. l, the strip being removed and the shaft on which the unit is mounted in its use being shown;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of one of the feeding pins;

Fig. 4 is a view in longitudinal section, taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in cross section, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view in side elevation of the mounting plate element of the pin wheel unit, showing the cam groove therein.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, a rotary pin wheel feeding device in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a mounting plate 10 which at its one end is formed with a notch 11 engageable with a machine rod 12 in such manner that the plate is held from rotating about its own axis. In an intermediate part thereof, the plate '10 is formed with an opening 13. On one side of the plate, in surrounding relation to the opening 13, is a laterally projecting boss 14. Within the opening 13, and an extension thereof as defined by the boss 14-, is a bearing sleeve 15. The bearing sleeve 15 provides a rotary mounting for a hub 16 of a body member 17 in parallel relation to the plate 10. The hub 16 and boss 14 are in effect placed in telescoping relation to one another and the parts pressed together until the boss 14 engages the adjacent side of the body 17 at which point further telescoping motion of the parts is prevented and the plate 10 and body 17 assume the relatively spaced apart, parallel adjacent relationship shown. The parts are held so assembled by a lock ring 18.

The hub 16 in effect extends through and beyond the body 17. On the opposite side thereof the hub is cut longitudinally to receive a key 19 by which the pin wheel body may be connected to a shaft 21 for unison rotation, the shaft 21 extending longitudinally through the hub 16 which in a practical application of the device will ordinarily be mounted on and supported by the shaft. The body 17 'is cylindrical in shape and its periphery accordingly is formed as a cylindrical surface. The end of the plate 10 opposite that in which notch 11 is formed is shaped to be complementary to the body 17 over a part of its length. Thus, a part of the end surface of the plate 10 is curved in conformance with the curvature of the body 17, and, in this area, the peripheral surfaces of the body and plate cooperate to define a supporting table or rest for a strip or web of material 22. The latter approaches the pin wheel feeding device from the rear, or to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, is passed about the device which so defines a bight in the material and then leaves the surface of the feeding device under the influence of the edge of the mounting plate 10 which departs from its complementary relationship with the surface of the body 17 at a point slightly above the mid part of the body. The strip material 22 is formed with equally spaced apart longitudinally arranged perforations 23. The body 17 and plate 10 support between them a circumferential series of feeding pins 24 which may progressively enter successive perforations 23 at the ena g 3 trance to the bight, continued rotary motion of the pin wheel body 17, under the turning influence of the shaft 21, serving to advance the strip in correspondence with the movement of the pin wheel device. At the end of the bight, the feeding pins withdraw from the perforations 23 or, more particularly, the strip material is pulled off the pins as it encounters the diverging surface of the mounting plate 10.

The feeding pins 24 each comprise, as shown in Fig. 3, a body portion 25 of generally rectangular construction, the pin body being placed between the rotating body 17 and the mounting plate with its major axis parallel to the planes occupied respectively by the body and by the mounting plate. On one side of the pin body 25, near one end thereof, is a laterally projecting stud 26 which is received in a slot 27 in the side of the rotating body 1"]. As seen in Fig. 1, there is a circumferential series of the openings 27 in the body 17, the slots being elongated in a radial sense whereby to permit some freedom of radial motion of the studs 26 therein. On the opposite side of the pin body is a pair of longitudinally spaced apart, laterally projecting studs 28 and 29. The studs 28 and 29 are aligned with one another in the longitudinal plane of the pin body 25, and the latter stud is substantially directly opposed in position to the stud 26. The pair of studs 28 and 29 of each device 24 is received in a generally circular cam groove 31 formed in that side of the mounting plate 10 which faces the rotating body 17. Spaced apart portions 32 and 33 of the groove 31 are straight in contrast to the continuously curved formation of the balance of the groove.

Extending in generally upright position from the upper surface of the pin body 25 is a pin portion having a length sufficient to extend beyond the peripheral edge of the rotating body 17. The upper surface of the pin body 25 is shaped with a surface 34 sloping from the middle of the pin body downward toward one end thereof. The pin portion 30 is set in this surface 34 and is perpendicular thereto. The axis of the pin portion accordingly is inclined or out of perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pin body 25. The arrangement, moreover, is one providing for positioning of the pin portion 30 substantially at one end of the pin body while the stud 26 is at the other end.

The construction and arrangement of parts accordingly is one mounting the several pin feeding elements 24 in a series relationship between the rotating body 17 and the mounting plate 10. The studs 26 being received within the slots 27 maintain the pin feeding elements in equidistant circumferentially spaced relation as well as cause the feeding pins to revolve with the body 17 as it rotates with the shaft 21. Further, the arrangement of the pin feeding elements is such as to place the pin portions 30 thereof to the rear of the elements in relation to the direction of rotation of the body 17.

With further respect to the cam groove 31, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of parts is such that the straight portions 32 and 33 of the groove will effect, through the studs 28 and 29, a slight rocking motion of the body 25 to and fro in a longitudinal sense as it passes through such straight portions. Thus, as the leading one 29 of the pair of studs leaves the straight portion 32, the trailing stud 28 tends to move radially inward relatively to the leading stud with the result that the pin portion 30 thereof rocks slightly to the rear. As the trailing stud 28 passes through and beyond the straight portion 32 a corresponding rocking motion in the opposite direction results. Similarly, a rocking motion to and fro of the feeding pin element takes place as it enters and leaves the straight portion 33. As indicated, the straight portions 32 and 33 are located in relation to the bight of the strip 22 in such manner that the feeding pins are rocked just prior to or at the same time that they enter the perforations 23 in the strip and are again rocked just prior to or at the same time that they are withdrawn from the strip. As shown in Fig. 4, a pin 24a is in a rocked position at the entrance of the bight and is entering a perforation 23 in a manner placing it to the rear of and out of contact with the leading edge of such perforation. A preceding set of pins 24b has passed beyond the straight portion 32 and returned to a normal position in which the front edge of the pin portion is in driving engagement with the leading edge of the perforation. Beyond the pins 24b, a pin 240 is encountering the straight portion 33 and has been rocked out of engagement with the leading end of the perforation 23 while it is being withdrawn therefrom.

The slots 27, since they are elongated, accommodate the studs 26 in the slight rocking motion which they are put through in response to rocking of the pin feeding elements to shift the pin portions thereof relatively to the perforations in the strip. This is a movement incidental to the rocking of the feeding pins. The feeding device here disclosed is essentially of the kind in which the feeding pins are continuously projected above the surface of the pin wheel body.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A rotary pin wheel feeding device, including a rotatable body, a relatively stationary plate in side by side adjacent relation to said body and having a generally circular cam groove therein facing said body, and a circumferential series of feeding pins disposed between said body and said plate, each comprising a body elongated in a plane parallel to the planes occupied by said rotatable body and said plate, laterally projecting longitudinally spaced apart guide portions on one side of said pin body received in said cam groove, said rotatable body having radially disposed guide channels therein, means on the other side of said pin body opposite one of said guide portions pivotally connected to said rotatable body within one of said guide channels providing for rotation of said feed pins with said rotatable body and radial adjustment thereof relative thereto, and upright pin portions on said pin bodies projecting generally radially of said rotatable body, said cam groove being formed to effect intermittent tilting movements of the feeding pins.

2. A rotary pin wheel feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that portions of said cam groove are straight in contrast to the continuously curving formation of the balance of the groove.

3. A rotary pinwheel feeding device, including a body having a circumferential series of radial slots opening through at least one side face of said body, said body having a longitudinally extending hub portion, a relatively stationary plate in parallel adjacent relation to the body, said hub portion having a rotary mounting in said plate, a circumferential series of feeding pins between said body and said plate, each of said feeding pins having a pin body having on one side thereof a stud engaged in a respective recess in said rotatable body and on the opposite side thereof a pair of longitudinally spaced apart studs, a generally circular cam groove in said plate receiving said pair of studs, portions of said groove being straight in contrast to the continuously curved balance of the groove, a pin portion generally upright on said pin body and inclining in the longitudinal plane of said pin body in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of said rotatable body.

4. A rotary pinwheel feeding device according to claim 3, characterized by means for holding said rotatable body, said plate and said feeding pins in an assembled unitary relation.

5. A rotary pin wheel feeding device, including a rotatable body, a relatively stationary plate in side by side parallel relation to said body, said plate having a generally circular, irregularly formed cam groove in the side thereof facing said body, a circumferential series of feeding pins disposed between said body and said plate, each of said pins comprising a pin body elongated in a plane parallel to said rotatable body and said plate, longitudinally spaced apart and aligned guide portions projecting from one side of said pin body and received in said cam groove, a generally upright pin portion on said pin body tilted out of perpendicular to a plane passing through said guide portions, interengaged portions on each of said pin bodies and said rotatable body maintaining a circumferential spacing of said feeding pins and revolving said pins in accompaniment with rotation of said rotatable body while permitting limited relative radial motion of said feeding pins, said interengaged portions comprising a laterally projecting stud on said pin body near one end thereof on the side opposite said guide portions and a recess in said rotatable body receiving said stud, said recesses being arranged in a circumferential series about the longitudinal axis of said rotatable body and elongated in a radial sense for limited radial motion of the respective studs therein.

6. A rotary feed device for perforate strip material comprising, a fixed body, a relatively rotatable body in adjacent relation thereto, a series of spaced feed pins contained between said bodies in generally radial projecting relation thereto, means slidably and pivotally interengaging said pins to said rotatable body for rotative movement of said pins therewith and limited radial movement of said pins relative thereto and cam means providing an interconnection of said fixed body and said pins to provide tilting of said pins from their general radial positions at predetermined portions of the cyclic rotation of said rotatable body.

7. A rotary pin wheel feeding device, including a rotatable body having a given direction of rotation, a relatively stationary plate in side by side parallel relation to said body, said plate having a generally circular, irregularly formed cam groove in the side thereof facing said body, a circumferential series of feeding pins disposed between said body and said plate, each of said pins having a support body connected thereto which is elongated in a plane parallel to said rotatable body and said plate, longitudinally spaced apart and aligned guide portions projecting from one side of each support body and received in said cam groove, each of said pins normally projecting generally radially of said rotatable body, inclined in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of said rotatable body, and being tilted out of perpendicular to a plane passing through the guide portions on its support body and pivot means interengaging each of said support bodies and said rotatable body providing means for slidable radial adjustment thereof when said guide portions are in predetermined portions of the cam groove in said plate on rotation of said rotatable body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

